Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[chooniecat]

Sorry to be so self centered-I do learn from reading your posts BUT I had to look again and there are 3 dry frisky ba chix and I grabbed a 1/2 of shell while there. Do I remember correctly that mom moves shells aside or what? The shells are taking up space and if I happen to see one on the side can I grab it? I am smacking my face now since I know you all want to. and how long does it take them to dry because I did NOT see these earlier? OMG.

 

[countrygirl5]

Well now I am stomping my feet. It seems like everyone that seems to know their stuff have listened for peeps but maybe its because they didn't have actual other chickens around(incubator?) making noise so they could actually hear. I do pretty much leave her alone but have gone out 2x today trying to hear peeps. they're not technically due until tomorrow night and I know it can vary but.... but.... Don't have any sound on computer or would listen on youtube. And bless poor suzettes heart if one DOES hatch when I discover it. Will wait until the end of hatch to take pics. IF any hatch. sorry.

My broody was in the coop w/all the other hens and 2mo old chicks I had. I NEVER heard peeping. I knew they were hatching cause when I went out to feed, I saw a peck on the egg from the inside out. w/in 24hrs the chick was born and the other egg had a peck on it. W/in 6-8 hours that one had hatched, which was awesome, cause my kids got to see it hatch!! Very cool homeschool day! Don't worry about hearing peeps. They will come in there time. I was so afraid that my broody was sitting for naught cause they were just my eggs (a mix), and as I was eating the other eggs, I was getting about half of them that were fertile and half of them that were not. So I'm very happy and feel very blessed that they both were fertile and hatched and are doing so well.

 

[countrygirl5]

Sorry to be so self centered-I do learn from reading your posts BUT I had to look again and there are 3 dry frisky ba chix and I grabbed a 1/2 of shell while there. Do I remember correctly that mom moves shells aside or what? The shells are taking up space and if I happen to see one on the side can I grab it? I am smacking my face now since I know you all want to. and how long does it take them to dry because I did NOT see these earlier? OMG.

I pulled the eggs out as soon as I could, cause mamma kept trying to push them back under her, thinking there were still babies in them. ;-) I wanted to her know they were all hatched and to focus on taking care of her babies.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sorry to be so self centered-I do learn from reading your posts BUT I had to look again and there are 3 dry frisky ba chix and I grabbed a 1/2 of shell while there. Do I remember correctly that mom moves shells aside or what? The shells are taking up space and if I happen to see one on the side can I grab it? I am smacking my face now since I know you all want to. and how long does it take them to dry because I did NOT see these earlier? OMG.

If i saw a piece of shell I would remove it and toss on the ground it got ate pretty quick. Once hatching starts the chicks hatched become the rooting section for those yet to hatch making them work all the harder to get out. What a wonderful Mothers day gift.

 

[bobbieschicks]

xs2 - maybe it's the clean freak in me - but I grabbed as much shell as I could - unfortunately sometimes it was stuck to momma - so I left that for her to deal with!

And NO we encourage you to post your questions and don't worry about how many or what kind - it's all good learning

I pulled the eggs out as soon as I could, cause mamma kept trying to push them back under her, thinking there were still babies in them. ;-) I wanted to her know they were all hatched and to focus on taking care of her babies.

 

[chooniecat]

If i saw a piece of shell I would remove it and toss on the ground it got ate pretty quick. Once hatching starts the chicks hatched become the rooting section for those yet to hatch making them work all the harder to get out. What a wonderful Mothers day gift.

OK- And suzette is SO used to my presence that I pray she doesn't care much. she growls still but more quietly(?) And this being a first for myself and also moms day!!!!! Will be less annoying for other hatches hopefully. It is just such a joy to have done this the natural way since I can't afford a bator. It CAN be done!!!! yeah!!! So many questions and have to just go rest and think. Thanks again

 

[bobbieschicks]

Wow - 42 days! That's great. Topsy has been broody for 20 days - by time she hatches she would have set for 29 days. Smokey on the other hand is getting a shorter broody period this time - just 10 days - I so hope it works.

Looking good. Nine more days wow. I have 10-11 days left and poor Issabelle will have been sitting for 42 days. Such a good broody.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Miss Lydia - is your avatar one of your recent hatchlings? It's adorable.

 

[Miss Lydia]

OK- And suzette is SO used to my presence that I pray she doesn't care much. she growls still but more quietly(?) And this being a first for myself and also moms day!!!!! Will be less annoying for other hatches hopefully. It is just such a joy to have done this the natural way since I can't afford a bator. It CAN be done!!!! yeah!!! So many questions and have to just go rest and think. Thanks again

well you go rest and think and hopefully by the end of the day you'll have the whole clutch hatched out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Miss Lydia - is your avatar one of your recent hatchlings? It's adorable.

Yes it is and thanks, she had 8 eggs and hatched 4 but lost one of those so she ended up with 3 I sold 2 of them this week to a very nice couple so now we have "Baby" left and "SHE" and mama and daddy goose are doing great. More to come this week.